=
Copyright 1937
The Cramer Chemical Co
Gardner, Kansas

 

 

September, 1937

The First Aider

Phea QUErK

x

USE CRAMER'S FIRST AIDS

 

 

Volume VI

Published by the Cramer Chemical Co., Gardner, Kans.

Number 3

 

Opening Football Practice

 

By H. D. Drew, End Coach, University of Alabama

 

Every coach in the United States is acquainted with the marked
success of Alabama teams. For this reason Coach Drew’s short
story on “preliminary practice”, carries much added interest:

 

 

 

 

 

Harold “Red” Drew

 

The first three days of football
practice are important, and we feel
that this period may be the time
that makes or breaks the entire sea-
son.

There are a great many methods
employed in conditioning football

°

 

 

teams during this period, and we do
not say that ours is the best, but
over a period of years we have found
that it suits our conditions.

In our conference, fall practice
starts September first. About three
weeks before this Coach Thomas
sends out an individual letter to each
man, going over with him exactly the
things that the man should do prior
to his returning here September
first. For instance, a man who is a
great deal over-weight must work
very hard to get down near playing
weight..On the other hand a boy who
may have worked hard during the
summer is already down to playing
weight. He should let up and try to
put on weight.

Our men seem to take enough pride
in their football to follow these in-
structions, and consequently report
here in about the condition we want
them. The first three weeks here are
important as the body is full of pep.
The whole season may be ruined by
injuries, unless the coach definitely
decides that—regardless of circum-
stances—there will be no scrimmage
for the first ten days. During the
first ten days particular emphasis is

placed on hardening the players so
that they can stand the rough work
that is to come.

We believe that football should be
divided into three parts. First, get-
ting a man into condition to play,
second, teaching a man what to do,
third, the actual performance. As
these first ten days are before the
opening of school, we practice twice
a day; about an hour and a half in
the morning starting at 9:00, and for
the same length of time in the after-
noon starting at 4:00.

At all morning sessions we practice
in shorts and this work consists of
calesthenics that have been especial-
ly prepared for football players, also
a lot of passing and kicking and dum-
my scrimmage, or any other phase of
football that can be accomplished
without contact.

In the afternoon session we dress
in complete uniform and start some
blocking and tackling in addition to
more passing and kicking. We do not
use many mechanical devices, but at
this stage of the game we think that
the use of the tackling dummy and
the blocking sled is very important.
There is no exercise invented that
will harden a man better than by
hitting the ground, and we get this by
using the tackling dummy. The
charging sled is used to build up the
legs and backs of the men, and is us-
ed most at just this time, rather than
later in the season.

All this work is done on a_ time
schedule of fifteen minute periods,
and in this way we do not stay at one
thing too long, but are able to work
at high speed all the time. A careful

 

‘check is kept on each man’s weight

 

 

 

GEORGE GRIFFIN

Genial and Successful Track Coach
of Georgia Tech.

 

WES L. FRY
Head Football Coach, Kansas State

College. His teams are an excellent

recommendation for his ability.

 

 

BLAIR GULLION

Basketball and Track Coach, Univer-

sity of Tennessee. Gullion always
has outstanding teams.